All-girl peewee hockey team competes at international meet in Quebec City

For the first time, an all-star team of girls from across Quebec is playing against boysand mixed teamsat the International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament in Quebec City the biggest minor-league hockey event in the world.

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The team,quipeQubecFminin,played itsfirst exhibition game on Thursday.

It was the girls' first time playing as a team, and they shut out an all-boysteam, the Doritos from Connecticut,3-0.

"I think we all played really well," said 12-year-oldMorganSkoda after that game. "Some of us didn't even know each other until today, so I think we did a good job."

Skodais one of 19 Quebec girls aged 12 and underchosen for the team.

"It's an honour, really, to play on this team and for everyone to be on it," said Skoda. "I think it's something special."

"I just wanted to come out fired up," said Doritos' player Riley Shaw after his team's defeat. "Itdoesn't matter,girls or boys, really."

Head coachTodd Carroll saidthe boys didn't know they were playing a girlsteam until they arrived at the rink.

"It was definitely a surprise, but [they are a]very well coached and very good team," Carroll said. "Great competition, very impressed with that group of girls."

'Very best talent'

The all-star girlsare coached by three Olympic gold medalists in hockey CarolineOuellette,Marie-PhilipPoulinandKim St-Pierre.

The girls were picked at an all-girls hockey tournament in December,run by CarolineOuellette.

Ouellettesaid theyevaluated more than200 players on 11 teams to whittle their choices down to 19 players.

"We tried to identify the very best, the very best talent," Ouellette said.

This is the third time an all-girlsteam is playingat the annual peewee tournament, but it's the first time a team from Quebec has taken part.

For LyanneSt-Amour, who's been playing since she was 4, it's a big deal.

"There's not enough opportunity to play hockey and be part of something big," she said.

High hopes for women's hockey

She'd like to play in a major women's league some day.

"I know it's kind of unrealistic, but you know how there's the NHL?' St-Amour asks. "Maybe something like that, for girls."

"Ireally want something big for girls."

St-Amourplays on a boys' team at home, and she says she feels generally more respected on this team. Hercoaches also see this as an important step for girls' hockey.

"I think it's awesome to see the quality of hockey that we can actually play, and I don't know if people realize that,"Marie-PhilipPoulinsaid.

We know we're in for a tough game.'- Mark Messier, coach of the New York Americans

She would like to see a girls-onlytournament one day.

Tonight her All-Stars play the New York Americans, coached by former New York RangersMark Messier and Mike Richter.

Messier watchedone period of the girls game on Thursday night.

"I'm a big fan of women's hockey," hesaid, adding his team has a femalegoalie.

"We know we're in for a tough game."

The game is tonight at 7:15 p.m. ET at theVideotronCentre in Quebec City.

The International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournamentcontinues all weekend.